Motor oil in Differential

S

sjx40250

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Alexandria VA

• Jun 10, 2011

• #1

I think I found the whirring in my Jeep. I rebuilt the transfer case thinking that was where the noise was sourced. No change.
I decided to check the front diff because when changed from 2HI to 4Hi, I could hear a difference. This is new.

I pulled the filler plug on the 35 and found metal on the magnet. Pulled the cover and the oil ran out like thin motor oil, not gear oil. I could not find any metal in the oil at all, just the plug.

The gear teeth don't look bad, at least they are uniform. Do you think I can get away with putting 75-140 in for at least 10k miles without failure?

 

Original_MudButt

NAXJA Forum User

Location

In the eighth dimension

• Jun 10, 2011

• #2

If you found nothing out of the ordinary and the teeth don't look worn out, fill it and run it till it blows up.... Or until you can get it rebuilt/replaced....

 

xcm

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Southern Oregon

• Jun 10, 2011

• #3

gear oil is practically the same viscosity as motor oil, when compared by visual inspection of it leaking out of a hole, dont know if i'd worry about it.

WAS IT MOTOR OIL? did it compltely not smell like sulphur?
ive ran motor oil in diffs when fighting axle seal leaks out on the trail.... re-filling it every 50 miles with gear oil wasnt an option for the drive home.

 

S

sjx40250

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Alexandria VA

• Jun 10, 2011

• #4

I really don't know if it was motor oil. It just was really thin or low viscosity. I can tell cause I just loaded up my 2000 GC with 75w-140 and I have some 80w-90.

The teeth were shinny and looked good. Don't really know what the whirring/whining was. It did not make a difference with on or off throttle and was directly related to vehicle speed. Could hear it at any speed down to 5 mph or so.

 

souske

NAXJA Forum User

Location

The land of competition

• Jun 10, 2011

• #5

Throw new gear oil in and see what happens :huh:

start looking for any rear axle except D35

 

S

sjx40250

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Alexandria VA

• Jun 10, 2011

• #6

No change with oil. I still am unsure where the noise is coming from. Thanks for the input. Whenever I figure this out, I will post.

 

in4aride

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Montrose

• Jun 10, 2011

• #7

if the axle is bent it can put uneven pressure on the bearings and cause a crazy howling/whirring type noise.

bad nasty bearings and races can cause some noises too.

as far as thing oil, if you had just driven it and the oil was warm/hot it will come out super runny :thumbup:

 

R

RCP Phx

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Phoenix,Az

• Jun 11, 2011

• #8

I'd be checking the front driveshaft! Better yet pull it and do a test drive.

 

in4aride

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Montrose

• Jun 11, 2011

• #9

if driveshaft doesnt change anything, either rebuild the rear (new bearings and races and such) or swap it out

 

R

rckstarTV

NAXJA Forum User

Location

so cal

• Jun 11, 2011

• #10

RCP Phx said:

I'd be checking the front driveshaft! Better yet pull it and do a test drive.

Click to expand...

i agree.... do you have a SYE kit on your jeep?